Improvement in roofing-tiles



P. POINTON. Roofing-Tile.

No. 198,4I4. Patented Dec.18,1877.

' WITNESSES:

@f v c INVENTUM .f' @auf y" ATTUNEYS..

UNITED STATES PATENT Grrrcn.

PHILIP POINTON, OF BALTIMORE, YMARYLAND, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF HIS RIGHT TO EDWIN BENNETT, OF SAME PLACE.

IM'PROVEMENTYIN ROOFING-TILES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 198,414, dated December 18, 1877; application filed November A24, 1877.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, PHILIP Ponv'roN, of Baltimore city, State of Maryland, have invented a new and Improved Roofing-Tile; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification, inwhich- Figure 1 is a view of the outer faces of the tile as arranged when laid upon the roof. Fig. 2 is an inverted plan of one of the tiles. Fig. 3 is a central longitudinal section of several tiles arranged in a pile for baking. Fig. 4 is an end view of the pile.

The object of my invention is to provide an improved roong-tile which will successfully stand the operation of baking without warping or curling7 and which may be easily and rapidly laid upon the roof, and when so laid will present a pleasing or ornamental effect.

To this end it consists in an improvement upon that form of .tile having upon one side an overhanging lip, and upon the other two parallel projecting ribs, between which the overhanging lip of the next adjacent tile iits and is secured. In connection with these features I form a ridge near the end of its upper face, a corresponding groove upon its lower face at the opposite end, and also a raised and hollowed-out cap-piece at the said lower end of its upper face, which covers and holds the adjacent lip and ribs of the two next lower tiles, said cap-piece being raised above the upper face of the tile to double the height of the marginal side ribs and lips above said upper face, so that, when the tiles are laid face to face in piles for baking, the said cap-pieces abut against inverted plain upper surface of the tile to form a support for the same at the ends, the ribs and lips resting severally upon each other at the edges, and a central projection of one resting upon a similar projection in the center of the one below it, the whole to form a reciprocal support for each and every tile at the ends, side, and center, which holds them straight during the baking operation and prevents warping.

In the drawing, A represents a rectangular tile, having upon one of its sides the overhang- -ing lip a, and upon the other the two parallel ribs b b', forming a groove adapted to receive the overhanging lip of the adjacent tile. B is the cap-piece, formed at the lower end of the tile, which cap embraces the upper ends of the conjoined lip and ribs of the lower row, holding the same together and rendering the joint water-proof. C is a transverse groove upon the under surface of the tile, near its lower end, and O is a corresponding ridge on the upper end of the outer face, which ridge O lits into the groove C when the tiles are laid upon the roof. This ridge and groove serve to prevent the longitudinal slipping of the tile upon each other, and also exclude more effectually heavy dashes of rain, which would otherwise pass up between the rows of tile.

Now, in defining more clearly my exact invention and improvement, I would state that I do not claim, broadly, the cap B for covering the conjoined edges ofthe two next lower tiles 5 but by raising the cap-piece B to a height above the upper face of the tile, which is twice the height of the marginal ribs and lip above said upper face, I secure an important result, which is best illustrated in Figs. 3 and 4. In these gures it will be seen that the tiles are arranged for baking in a vertical pile face to face. In this relation the tiles are supported upon the sides by the ribs and lips, while the extended or raised caps B abut against the plain surface of the tile, and form for the same a support at the ends. This holds the tile at all four edges against its tendency to warp, while the middle portions are supported and prevented from sagging by raised projections c, which are of the same height as the marginal ribs, and approach and rest upon each other in the middle line. The extended or raised caps B then, it will be seen, serve to complete the support of the tile and cause it to be baked in a true plane.

The underneath surfaces of the tile being for the most parts a plain surface with only parallel grooves therein, to secure uniformity in baking, when the said underneath faces of the tile are next each other in the pile they also are supported at all points.

Upon the upper surface of the cap B is formed a transverse groove, d. The object of this is to cause the cap-piece to correspond and t to the ridge C' when arranged in the pile, the same groove serving, also, incidentally the purpose of preventing the tile from slipping longitudinally in the pile, and compelling them always to be arranged properly one above the other.

In forming the caps B, their elevation secures not only the result described for the baking operation, but their increased height adds to the beauty of the roof by the contrast of light and shade caused thereby. To compensate for the increased elevation of these caps, and prevent an undue thickness of material at this point, which would involve difficulties in baking, said caps are hollowed or chambered out upon their under sides more than is necessary to receive the ribs and lips of the next lower tile.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new is 1. A tile having upon one side an overhanging lip, a, and upon the other parallel ribs b b', and provided, also, with a hollow or recessed cap, B, raised to twice the height of the ribs and lips, substantially as and for the purpose described.

2. A tile having lip a, ribs b b', ridge C', groove C, and hollow cap B, raised to twice the height of ribs b b', and provided with a groove adapted to it ridge C when` arranged in piles, substantially as described.

PHILIP PODTTON.

Witnesses:

TH. HARRIS HoDGEs, C. K. HoDGEs. 

